Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-03

have commanded the confidence of all
 Testimony comes from all quarters of his
 sympathy and chsrity, of his quickening and
 inspiring words.
 ''The graces of the spirit in his life had
 beautiful illustrations every day, and every
 where. Youthful in his feelings, down even
 to old age, he peculiarly attracted the
 children and youth, but never failed to in-
 terest and edify vigorous thinkers. Manly and magnanimous himself and having thor
 oughly thought out the revelations of God,
 he could deal successfully with doubters.
 "By searching his private records likely might have found the names of all who,
 welcomed VsIs1 ~ into Dl1' ths church dn11 'sea of Christ-a goodly number I am sure-but these would poorly picture the fair fruit God gave him to garner. Did he not in all these parishes prove himself burden bear ers Did he not cheer scores and hundreds of
 the desponding, who, likely, already ere these burial scenes are over, have expressed their gratitude in his ear? Did he not com | fort the sorrowing, strengthen the weak and | lift up the bowed down? If the way were open, and those now living should speak, | would they not rise up and call him blessed? | Some from the old South church of our city, some from Fair Haven, some from Woodbury and some from Stony Creek, would not these speak and say, to him under God we owe all our blessed hopes; into our homes he came, he pointed out to the way of life, he aided us when loved ones were lying sick, lifted us into strength when our faith was ! weak, when death had invaded out little and faltering group; and at our side lifted us to where the sun was shining and where the golden gate was seen, swung wide for wei come; coveting no mans silver or gold-anx l ious only to exalt in hearts and | friends, in spite oi all criticisms
 and all cavil, this world will 'venerate the man whose heart is warm, whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life coin | cident exhibit lucid proof that he is honest in the sacred cause.'
 "This our brother was; he believed. there | fore he spoke; and when he spoke men be- | lieved because he believed. Nothing can atone for deficiency of faith in preacher Of ] the word. With him Gods revelation must | be law; and the piously revealed doctrines | of scripture no myth or mockery. Sincere | and genuine lucid and loving, sympathizing | and condescending he must be who shall preach with power. All this our brother | was; and because he was all this, men loved and trusted and revereneed him. To be per I nitted to minister in these ways for forty years is gift from God which any man well | may covet. Dying an inheritance is left richer than all the silver and the gold of earth.
 "The widow and the fatherlsss are not con- fortless in this bereaving hour. They shall | find him present help who said: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy
 laden, and will give you rest How rich | and full and comforting are the promises of l God! Underneath are the everlasting arms; T will never leave them nor forsa6e them;' | 'Lo am with you always 'When thou passeth through the waters they shall not I overflow thee.'
 l "To have been the wife of such a man and | to have shared with him in the labors and | hopes and fruitions of so many years, and to l have been the sons and daughters of such a father-so cheerful, so sunny, so exemplary
 and so devout-is occasion for gratitude be- | yond expression.
 ''Beloved, the path to you henceforward l will seem lonely, and sometimes dark; l but he into whose immediate presence the | husband and father has gone will be your | companion and your reward. Lift up thy | head in hope, oh stricken one. Thy God ] shall go before thee and mark out all thy way, leading thee ever by the hand and giv- | ing theeto share at last in the glorious re- warding of the great day.
 ''I see before me representatives from the 1 churches to which our brother has minis l tered. You have come to prove your love in these last offices. Be thankful that you 1 heard the gospel from his lips and were led l into more loyal life, as he set before you | the privileges and responsibilities of Chris ! tian believer. Follow in his footsteps as he | followed in the footsteps of Christ. He
 
 member of the focks to which he ministered. | If to-day from these now sealed lips a voice | could come would it not be in higher exal- 1 tatien of the love of Jesus, in profounder | estimate of the grace of God, in richer testi- l mony of the blessedness of a perfect conver- l sation? Already the harp has been struck | hard by the throne and the new song is be- | ing sung. Let it be yours, brethren of these | churches, to have part in that marvellous chorus of the skies.
 "And, fathers and brethren, Stewards of the mysteries of God let it be ours to stand walking humbly with God. Well has it been said that whatever be the order of tal- ent, or the place of honor, the best of all is a pure heart and love unfeigned.' No di- viner gift was ever bestowed on mortals than that of helping souls leave behind is not to die.' Our brother
 will long live in many hearts, and so may we
 In little while all that was mortal of Rev.
 Gurdon w. Moves will be laid away in the
 silence of the grave. This family will come
 back from the burial silent, sad, heavy hearted. God bless them and raise up for them friends who shall be faithful, and may Christ more than ever be an abiding guest i'll their home. You and have work awaiting
 us. How much, how long are secrets with
 our God, and we can trust them there.
 eve cannot forget our friend. We
 would not if we could.
 "Under the inspiration of the word, He
 that winneth souls is wise, and they that
 turn many to righteousness shall shine as the
 etars forever we take up the task allotted
 us in hope of the glory ere long to be re-
 vealed.
 "Such is life, and such is death. We meet
 and we part. Ties are severed, but there is a realm where none of these painful experi- ences shall be had. To that fair land we look, towards that we press and in that all
 our highest hopes shall find fruition."